Honda CB500X vs Kawasaki Versys 650: Which Middleweight ADV Bike I’d Actually Buy

Every spring, the same question lands in my inbox: should I buy the Honda CB500X or the Kawasaki Versys 650? It’s the classic middleweight adventure-bike dilemma, and I understand why it comes up so often. Both bikes sit in that sweet spot of price, power, and practicality that makes them appealing to new riders and returning riders alike.

I’ve logged serious miles on both. I’ve commuted on a CB500X through a wet winter, and I’ve taken a Versys 650 on multi-day trips with luggage and a passenger. Neither bike embarrassed itself. But they are very different machines wearing similar bodywork, and the one that fits you depends entirely on how and where you ride.

Here’s my honest, road-tested breakdown of the Honda CB500X versus the Kawasaki Versys 650, including the numbers, the stuff spec sheets never tell you, and which one I’d actually spend my own money on.

Two Very Different Answers to the Same Question

Honda and Kawasaki approached this class from opposite directions. Honda built a friendly, efficient, lightweight all-rounder and then gave it adventure-bike styling. Kawasaki took a proven street twin, raised it up, and tuned it into a sport-touring machine that can handle a dirt road.

That difference in philosophy shows up in every part of the ownership experience, from the seat height to the price tag.

What the CB500X Gets Right

The CB500X, which Honda renamed the NX500 for 2024, is the bike I recommend to nervous new riders. It’s light, it’s forgiving, and the 471cc parallel twin is one of the most unburstable engines in motorcycling.

Nothing about it intimidates you. The clutch is light, the power is linear, and the fueling is so smooth that you can be clumsy with the throttle and never get punished for it.

What the Versys 650 Gets Right

The Versys 650 is the bike I recommend to riders who already know they’ll be doing highway miles. Its 649cc twin has real midrange punch, and the chassis feels planted at speeds where the Honda starts working hard.

It’s also the more complete touring package out of the box, especially in LT trim with hard saddlebags and a taller windscreen.

Engine: 471cc vs 649cc, and Why It Matters

This is the biggest single difference between the two, and it defines everything else. The Honda’s 471cc twin produces around 47 horsepower. The Kawasaki’s 649cc twin produces roughly 66 horsepower. That’s a 40 percent gap.

On paper it sounds like a knockout. On the road, it’s more nuanced than that.

Around Town and on Back Roads

Below about 50 mph, the two bikes feel closer than the numbers suggest. The Honda’s lighter weight and shorter gearing mean it zips away from traffic lights surprisingly well, and its low-speed throttle response is genuinely better than the Kawasaki’s.

The Versys has a slightly snatchy throttle in the earliest part of its rev range, something I noticed most in stop-and-go traffic. It’s manageable, but the Honda is simply easier to ride smoothly.

Highway and Passing Power

This is where the Kawasaki pulls away, literally. At 70 mph, the Versys 650 is turning over at relaxed revs with plenty in reserve. Roll on the throttle and it passes a truck without drama.

The CB500X will do 70 mph all day, and it’ll cruise at 80 if you ask. But it’s working up there. Add a headwind, a hill, or a passenger, and you’ll be downshifting where the Kawasaki just motors past.

If your riding involves long interstate slogs, that difference is worth real money.

Weight, Handling, and Confidence at Low Speed

The CB500X weighs in around 439 pounds wet. The Versys 650 is roughly 476 pounds. That 37-pound gap doesn’t sound huge, but you feel every ounce of it in a parking lot.

I’ve pushed both bikes around garages and into awkward roadside parking spots. The Honda is noticeably easier to manhandle, and for shorter riders or anyone coming off a small displacement bike, that confidence matters more than horsepower.

Once moving, both handle well. The Honda turns in quickly and feels almost like a tall standard. The Versys is more stable and more planted, especially with a loaded bike, but it asks for a firmer hand at low speeds.

Suspension, Wheels, and the Gravel Question

Here’s where the spec sheets get interesting. The Honda runs a 19-inch front wheel, while the Kawasaki runs a 17-inch front. That’s a meaningful difference for anyone dreaming of fire roads.

A 19-inch front rolls over rocks and ruts more easily and gives you a bigger contact patch advantage on loose surfaces. The Honda also has a bit more suspension travel up front, around 5.9 inches.

But the CB500X’s fork is non-adjustable. You get nothing, not even preload. The Versys 650 gives you preload and rebound adjustment on the fork and preload plus rebound on the rear shock.

In practice, I’d rather have the Versys’ adjustable suspension on a long trip with luggage, and the Honda’s 19-inch wheel on a graded dirt road. Neither bike is a real dual sport, so don’t let the marketing fool you.

Comfort, Wind Protection, and Riding Two-Up

The Versys 650 is the better long-distance companion, and it isn’t particularly close. Its fairing and taller screen move air off your chest far more effectively, and its seat is flatter and more supportive over a full tank.

The Honda’s stock screen is short, and I got buffeting right at helmet level until I fitted an aftermarket screen. That’s a $100 to $200 fix, but it’s a fix you’ll almost certainly want.

Two-Up Riding

If you regularly carry a passenger, buy the Kawasaki. The extra 19 horsepower and the more adjustable rear suspension make a loaded Versys feel composed where the CB500X feels strained.

I’ve done a two-up weekend on the Honda and it coped, but I spent most of the trip in the upper half of the rev range. The Versys handled the same trip without breaking a sweat.

Fuel Range and Real Running Costs

This is the Honda’s strongest argument, and it’s a big one. The CB500X returns somewhere in the 60 to 70 mpg range in mixed riding. The Versys 650 is closer to 45 to 50 mpg.

Combine that with tank sizes and the Honda actually goes further on a fill, despite the smaller engine making less power. On a long tour, that means fewer fuel stops and a lower total fuel bill.

Maintenance is a wash in most respects. Both need valve clearance checks at similar intervals, and both have proven, well-supported engines with huge parts availability.

Where the Honda pulls ahead again is consumables. Lighter bike, less power, narrower rear tire, and lower insurance premiums in most markets. Over five years of ownership, that adds up.

Electronics and Features

The current Versys 650 comes with a 4.3-inch TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity through Kawasaki’s app, LED lighting, and two-mode traction control. That’s a genuinely modern package.

The outgoing CB500X used a basic LCD dash and had no traction control. The newer NX500 closed most of that gap with a 5-inch TFT and Honda’s selectable torque control, so if electronics matter to you, shop the newer model.

Neither bike offers cruise control, which is a shame for anyone doing serious highway mileage. It’s the feature I miss most on both.

Price and Value

As I write this, the Honda NX500 starts around $7,400. The Kawasaki Versys 650 starts closer to $9,200, with the LT version adding a few hundred dollars for hard saddlebags.

That’s roughly a $1,800 gap, and it’s the single best reason to choose the Honda. You could buy the CB500X and still have enough left over for a quality helmet, jacket, and a set of soft luggage.

But the Kawasaki earns back some of that gap. You get more power, better wind protection, adjustable suspension, traction control, and a TFT dash. If you’d be adding luggage and a screen to the Honda anyway, the real difference shrinks fast.

So Which One Would I Buy?

I’d buy the Honda CB500X, and here’s my honest reasoning. Most of my riding is solo, under 200 miles a day, on a mix of back roads and short highway stretches. For that use, the lighter weight, the better fuel range, and the lower price win.

But I’d recommend the Versys 650 without hesitation to a different rider. If you commute 40 miles each way on an interstate, ride two-up regularly, or plan multi-week tours, the extra power and wind protection are worth every dollar.

Choose the Honda CB500X If…

You’re a newer or returning rider, you’re on a tighter budget, you want the lightest and most confidence-inspiring bike in the class, or you value fuel range and low running costs above outright performance.

Choose the Kawasaki Versys 650 If…

You ride long highway distances, you carry a passenger or heavy luggage, you want factory luggage options and modern electronics, or you simply don’t want to feel like you’re at the limit of your bike on the interstate.

Final Thoughts

There’s no wrong answer between these two, which is exactly why the debate never ends. The Honda CB500X is the smarter, cheaper, friendlier bike. The Kawasaki Versys 650 is the more capable, more comfortable, more powerful one.

My advice is to ride both back to back if you possibly can. Twenty minutes on each will tell you more than any comparison article ever will, including this one.

And if you can only ride one, be honest about the riding you actually do, not the riding you imagine you’ll do. That single question will point you to the right bike almost every time.

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